“For them to be able to return to these lands, maybe they can improve their lives.”

Grossman called on the army to give up other land that it had seized but was no longer using. “We shouldn’t have to go to court every time,” he said.

The army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jalud village council leader Abdullah Hamed welcomed the army’s decision to surrender control but said villagers were still waiting for a second decision allowing them to actually return to their land.